Four candidates have successfully filed their nominations for the Luangwa Ward by-election in Chama District in Eastern Province ahead of the poll slated for the 2nd of May 2024.
Citizens First (CF) Party candidate Watson Sichone was the first to file nomination papers at exactly 43 minutes after the nomination centre was declared open at 09.00 hours.
The Leadership Movement (ML) candidate Masau Phiri was next to file his nomination at 11.54 hours, while Socialist Party (SP) candidate Simi Sibale filed his nomination at 13.12 hours.
ZANIS reports that United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Kaluba Sahani followed and managed to file his nomination at 13.57 hours as the final of the four candidates.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Returning Officer Lyford Kumwenda declared the nomination centre open at exactly 09.00 hours and closed at 15:00 hours after all four candidates successfully filed their valid nominations.
Speaking after filing his nomination papers, Citizens First aspiring candidate Watson Sichone said his message during the election campaign period will be of development in the ward.
“I have successfully filed my nomination documents and my campaign message will be of development, here in Luangwa ward we don’t have a clinic and patients walk long distances to the nearest clinic, no proper roads as well,” he said.
And Movement Leadership aspiring candidate Masau Phiri said he has observed that most residents in the area do not have information on how to apply for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) saying he will ensure that sensitisation on CDF will be taken seriously.
Mr Phiri added that development should be key in such areas saying construction of bridges and communication towers are also things that need to be worked on seriously as most people are affected in the ward.
Socialist Party aspiring candidate Simi Sibale has also promised to be a link between the people and government in fostering development in the area.
Meanwhile, the United Party for National Development (UPND) aspiring candidate Kaluba Sahani said he expects the by-elections to be free and fair adding that political parties should observe the rules and regulations during the campaigns in order to have a free and fair election.
“I expect the people of Luangwa ward to support me for Government programs to continue in this area,” he said.
Mr Sahani stated that the people of Luangwa Ward have already seen development in the area since the UPND came to power.
Meanwhile, at the close of the nomination centre, both the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and the Patriotic Front (PF) did not show up for nomination due to unknown reasons while Munthu Party aspiring candidates could not successfully file nomination papers due to the documents not having been properly signed.
The Luangwa by-election has been necessitated by the resignation of the incumbent councillor James Gondwe of the PF party on 20th February 2024 to pursue personal endeavours.
